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(Model.) 4 I W. H..DAVIS & A. A. HAWLEY.

PELTED WOOLEN SUCK 0R STOCKING. No. 287.808. PatentedNov. 6, 1888.

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' UNITED- STAT S PATENT Gr mes.

WILBUR DAVIS, or LYNN, AND ALFRED A. HA-WLEY, or MERRIMAG, ASSIGNORS TO-THE MERINO SHOE COMPANY, or BOSTON,-1\IASS.

FELTED WQOLEN so cKo sTocK-mcQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,808, dated November 6, 1883. v

Application filed May '15, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILBUR H. DAVIS, of Lynn, and ALFRED A. HAwLEY, of Merrimac, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Felt Woolen Socks or Stockings, of which the following is a specifi cation.

Our invention relates to the manner of making the sock or stocking and the stocking as made, the object of itbeing to produce a stocking of wool without spinning or knitting which shall be soft and pliable and in good form to fit the foot and leg and prevent the radiation of heat from the feet of the wearer,

so that lumbermen andothers exposed to se-.

vere cold by standing in snow for long periods may not only be protected from frost, but actually kept warm and comfortable in the severest weather; and it consists in the method hereinafter describedof making a woolen stocking directly from the wool without spinning into yarn and knitting, asheretofore done, and in the stocking so made. 7

To practice our invention, we dispose a quantity of wool sufficient to make a stocking in a fiat bat or film of uniform thickness, in

form, when .folded, approximating to the form of the stocking, but with an opening down one side of the leg and part of the foot. We then commence hardening the wool at the toe of the stocking, using a jigger of such form that the under plate will enter the foot of the stocking, extending the hardening toward the heel, and closing the opening in the side of the bat as the work progresses. When the heel is reached, proper form is given to it as the wool is hardened, and as the hardening proceeds up the leg the opening in the bat is closed until the whole length of the leg is hardened. Fromthe heel upward the stocking is shaped to correspond with the form of the ankle and calf of the leg, so as to fit perfectly, and if any surplus of wool appears as the hardening is going on it is torn away, or if there is a deficiency of wool more is added to make it up. Thus the sock or stocking is formed and shaped to correspond nearly to the form of the foot and leg during the process technically called hardening the wool. At

claimed in them but a process of fulling or felting. A large mass 5 5 of them is placed in a fulling-mill, and there milled until the fabric is as firm as it can be and have the stocking finish flexible and somewhat elastic and soft to the touch; While in the milling or fulling process, the stockings are con- 60 stantly examined and handled to discover and correct any tendency to take improper form, and if any arefound getting out of the required form they are withdrawn and the tendency of the jigger, if necessary. WVhen sufficiently and properly fulled or felted, the stocking is drawn onto a form or tree of the exact shape and size required for the finished stocking. In this process it is stretched either in drawing on or by expanding the form or tree after the stocking is on it. The stocking is then dried on the form. or tree, and it may be finished on the outer surface'by abrasive action, or not. may be finished with abinding or not. Itis then completed by affixing at the top of the legand encircling it a strap of leather or other suitable material, secured to the stocking by passing.

corrected by manipulation, or by further use 6 The top of the leg istrimmed off, and 7 5 it through perpendicular slots cut in the felted 8 fabric two in front and two in the back side of the top of the leg. Other slots may be made in the sides of the leg for the same purpose, if necessary or desirable. The strap is provided with a buckle, and its purpose is to 8 5 The drawing annexed shows a sock or stock 0 ing in perspective, with the strap and buckle and the slotsin the felted fabric by which is it affixed.

We are aware of the several patents of Palmer, Houghton, Hawley, and others relating 5 to the manufacture of seamless felted shoes, and we do not claim any matter described or We do claim as new and of our invention l. The above-described. improved method 100 or process of forming a soft or pliable sock or ening and partially felting the wool, in the stocking fromwool without spinning and knitmanner or substantially as described. ting, consisting of depositing the wool in a flat 3. In combination with a flexible, pliable, 15 but of uniform thickness and suitable shape, and somewhat elastic stocking made from wool 5 closing the bat by joining the edge and hardin the manner described, aretaining strap and ening and partially felting the Wool, in the buckle afiixed thereto, in the manner or submanner or substantially as described. stantially as set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a fiexi- XVILBUR H. DAVIS. ble, pliable, and somewhat elastic seek or ALFRED A. HAX'VLEY. 1o stocking made from wool without spinning \Vitnesses: and knitting by disposing the wool in a flat D. J. POORE, bat and joining the edge of the bat and hard- 0. E. GINN. 

